Armistice Day / Remembrance Sunday

Our annual outdoor Armistice Day service will be held on Sunday 11 November at the base of the Armed Forces Memorial. Everyone is invited to participate in the service which will mark 100 years since the signing of the Armistice, which signaled the end of the First World War.

Please read on for further important information about the service, parade and car parking. Please note the timings outlined on this page may be subject to change.

Getting to the Arboretum and Car Parking

We anticipate that the Arboretum will be much busier than normal on this day. To help us manage the flow of vehicles into the Arboretum a road closure will be in place on Croxall Road and special parking arrangements will apply. We advise that visitors allow a longer travel time than normal to arrive in time for the service. The Arboretum will open at 8am.

Car Parking

Park and Ride - A free park and ride service will be operating from the Alrewas Show ground, approximately a five minute drive from the Arboretum. All vehicles that do not hold a valid Armistice Day parking pass will be directed to our park and ride facility, which will be signposted on the day. Park and ride service vehicles are access friendly and are suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter access. The park and ride car park is grassed. The park and ride facility will be free, though donations are appreciated.

Arboretum Car Parks - Our main and overspill car parks have been reserved for visitors with pre-paid Armistice Day parking passes. All passes have now been allocated. A road closure will be in place on Croxall Road throughout the day. Only visitors with valid parking permits and coaches will be permitted onto Croxall Road during this time. Those unable to present a valid Armistice Day parking permit on the day will be directed to our park and ride facility. Photocopies and digital or printed email confirmations will not be accepted in lieu of a valid pass. A total road closure will apply on Croxall road from 10.30am, for approximately 15 minutes, to allow for the arrival of principle guests.

Parking Pass Holders - Annual Arboretum parking passes will not be valid on this day. All vehicles not holding a valid Armistice Day parking pass will be directed to our park and ride facility.

The Armistice Day / Remembrance Sunday Service

To allow as many visitors as possible to participate in our Armistice Day / Remembrance Sunday event, the service will be held at the base of the Armed Forces Memorial. We will NOT require visitors to pre-register their attendance for this event. Seating will be available at the service site for those who require it. This seating cannot be reserved in advance of the event and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis on the day.

We anticipate that the Arboretum will be much busier than normal on this day and advise that visitors allow a longer travel time than normal to arrive in time for the service. The Arboretum will open at 8am. We recommend that visitors wishing to observe the service arrive on site at the Arboretum no later than 10am. The service will begin at approximately 10.40am and will conclude by 11.30am (Times are subject to change).

The Armed Forces Memorial will remain closed to all members of the public from 8am until after the conclusion of the service. Members of the public are welcome to lay wreaths and tributes on the Armed Forces Memorial following the service.

Free service sheets will be available, though donations are appreciated. Commemorative Armistice 100 programmes can be purchased for £5 each.

Wreaths can be ordered from the Arboretum in advance of the day, wreaths will start at £18 each. Please call 01283 245 100 to order.

Armistice Day / Remembrance Sunday Parade

Currently serving military personnel, veterans groups, uniformed youth organisations i.e. cadets, Scouts etc and individuals from any of the aforementioned are invited to participate in our Armistice Day parade which will begin onsite at 12.30pm. Those wishing to participate in the parade are advised to assemble at the Falklands Memorial, on Millennium Avenue at 12.15pm. A briefing for those who wish to parade a standard at the parade will take place at 9.54am at the rear of the Armed Forces Memorial.

Group Visitors

To ensure that our team are able to welcome all our guests appropriately we politely ask that groups of ten or more complete, and return to the Arboretum, our Group Booking Form in advance of their visit. Coaches will be permitted to drop off and pick up passengers at the drop off facility located next to the Remembrance Centre. Coach parking is free of charge. Coaches will be directed by our traffic marshals to their parking area.

Our Armistice Day Parade will take place at 12.30pm, if you are travelling as a group and wish to participate in our Armistice Day / Remembrance Sunday parade please complete our parade form, to receive further logistical information in advance of the day.

Learning Groups

We ask that schools, Scout and Guiding groups, cadet units and other learning groups complete and return a learning Booking Formin advance of their visit. Mini buses and coaches will be permitted to drop off and pick up passengers at the drop off facility located next to the Remembrance Centre. Scout and Brownie and cadet units are invited to participate in our Armistice Day parade. If you plan to participate in our parade on the day please complete our parade form.

Invited Guests

Guests who have been invited to attend the service by the National Memorial Arboretum will receive further participation information directly from us by Monday 5 November.

Food and Drink

The Restaurant will be open from 8am – 5pm. Our menu includes breakfast items, until 11.30am, homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and a variety of hot dishes. If you have any special dietary requirements, please speak to a member of our team. The Coffee Shop will be open from 9am.

Accessibility

We apologise but all our mobility scooters have now been reserved for this event. Wheelchairs are still available and should be booked in advance eitheronline or by phone, call 01283 245 100. For further information about accessibility, and to download a copy of our accessibility guide, please visit our accessibility page.

Daily Activities

The Land Train will be suspended on Armistice Day until 12.30pm. The Daily Act of Remembrance and Welcome talk will not take place on this day. The Football Legends Walk and 11.30am Guided Walk will also be cancelled, and Undiscovered Arboretum Buggy Tours will not run until 1.30pm. All other daily activities will take place as normal.